Two men charged in Tekashi 6ix9ine entourage shooting are victims of assault, lawyer says

By Esha Ray

|NEW YORK DAILY NEWS|

Oct 28, 2018 | 1:05 PM

The entourage of Tekashi 6ix9ine was involved in a Midtown shootout at a celebration thrown after he received a no-jail sentence in a sex abuse case. (JB NICHOLAS / SplashNews.com)

The two men charged with sparking a gunfight inside a Midtown restaurant where rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was meeting a new manager were actually victims of an assault, their lawyer told the Daily News Sunday.

Zachary Bunce, 33, of Long Island, was charged with attempted gang assault after prosecutors allege he helped Faheem Walter throw a chair at the manager’s security guard during an all-out brawl at Philippe, a swanky Madison Ave. Chinese restaurant on Friday.

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But Bunce’s attorney Lance Lazzaro says it was the security guard, a retired cop, who should be charged because he shot Walter in the stomach.

“My belief is that Mr. Bunce and Mr. Walter are victims of a crime,” Lazzaro said. “The complaining witness in this case, a former police officer, used his gun when it was not necessary and shot Mr. Walter.”

The rapper’s entourage was trying to get into the Midtown restaurant to celebrate Tekashi’s jail-free status in a sex-abuse case when they were turned away by the new manager’s guards, police sources said.

After Tekashi, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, left, the crew came back.

That’s when Walter allegedly struck a guard with a chair, “causing a large laceration down the middle of (his) forehead and substantial bleeding,” court papers say.

In the chaos, one of the crew members pulled out a gun, sources said. Lazzaro denied that claim.

“No one flashed any gun. That former officer pulled out a gun and started shooting when he had no legal right to,” the lawyer said.

The security guard shot Walter once in the stomach. The 29-year-old man was taken to a local hospital where he is recovering, his lawyer said.

“He did have surgery and survived. And yet he is being charged in connection with this case when he is a victim,” Lazzaro said.

The criminal complaint does not specify what role Bunce had in the fight — which Lazzaro was quick to point out.

“It doesn’t really say what he did wrong other than being there. Mere presence alone does not make you guilty of a crime,” he said.

Bunce was released Sunday after posting $7,500 bail at his arraignment, his lawyer said. Walter’s arraignment is still pending.